Jose Jose says he's grateful for 2nd chance with UCF

By Iliana Limon | Orlando Sentinel

Former Miami Central defensive lineman Jose Jose said he was devastated.

He thought his UCF football career was over before it ever began. Jose was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm and carrying a concealed weapon in March. UCF coach George O'Leary immediately released him from his scholarship.

Now Jose is grateful he has another chance to play for the Knights. After a nearly one-year detour through the criminal justice system and junior college, Jose is poised to finally enroll at UCF next week and join the football program.

"I definitely thought it was over for me at UCF, and I was so upset about it," Jose said. "I am grateful for this opportunity and have learned a lot. I'm excited about the chance to play at UCF. I want to work as hard as I can to contribute to the school and to get my education."

Jose (6-3, 330) was one of the highest profile members of the best recruiting class in UCF history that signed with the Knights in February 2010. He was one of five Miami Central players, including current UCF starting quarterback Jeff Godfrey, to pass up offers from much bigger schools and pick the Knights.

He calls the arrest in March a misunderstanding.

"I made a really bad decision and was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but it wasn't as bad as everyone in the media made it out to be," he said. "It was all just a big misunderstanding. I was in a car with other guys and we all got arrested. But Coach O'Leary told me there was nothing he could do. The charge was too serious and it was out of his hands. They had to let me go."

Jose was not convicted. He was cleared of the assault charge, and given a six-month administration probation for the weapons violation, and was never assigned a parole officer. He said he understood O'Leary's decision to release him from his scholarship before the legal process was completed and was never upset with the UCF coaching staff.

Jose called O'Leary when the charges were cleared and let him know he planned to enroll at Eastern Arizona College.

After playing on both the offensive and defensive lines at Miami Central, Jose played every game at offensive guard at Eastern Arizona. He also played defensive tackle in some short-yardage situations. Eastern Arizona finished 9-3 and ranked No. 20 in the National Junior College Athletic Association poll. The Gilla Monsters lost to Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College in the Salt Lake City Bowl 42-17.

Jose's blocking helped the Eastern Arizona lead the NJCAA in rushing with 3,555 yards, an average of 323 yards per game. He was named second team all-Western States Football League.

He stayed in touch with UCF receivers coach David Kelly during the past year.

"Coach Kelly has been a mentor to me since my freshman year in high school," said Jose, who had committed to Tennessee his senior year of high school before ultimately choosing UCF. "Even when I thought I was going to another school, I would always call him up and talk to him. He gave me great advice. It was never like recruiting with him. It was just about learning everything I could from him."

With his legal trouble behind him and no felony conviction, schools once again began earnestly recruiting Jose.

During his senior year of high school, Jose held scholarship offers from Florida, Miami, Rutgers, Tennessee, USF and UCF.

A year later coming out of junior college, Jose held scholarship offers from schools that included USC and Kansas State.

Jose said it was easy to pick the Knights again.

"I just want to be able to come in and help build a program from scratch instead of just helping an established program," he said. "I want to be part of the special things that are happening at UCF."

His enrollment was only deferred one year, but Jose said he will start his career at UCF as a much older and wiser student. He also is in much better football shape. After tipping the scales at about 380 pounds as an offensive lineman coming out of high school, he has slimmed down to about 330 pounds.

Jose said he talked with Godfrey and his other Miami Central teammates during the past year. He said it was bittersweet watching the team post an 11-3 record and claim the first bowl win in school history.

"I was so excited for them, but I also wished I could have been at UCF with them," he said. "I wish I could have been part of this great season they had. I feel like I could have helped the team. Now I'm just focused on keeping it going. I want UCF to keep getting bigger and better."